Panel filter construction



Nov. 18, 1969 R. A. BAKER PANEL FILTER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 26, 1967 INVENTOR.

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Santa Barbara, Calif. 93103 Filed Apr. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 633,741 Int. .Cl. E04c 2/38 I ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE I The device comprises top and bottom U-shaped frame sections for retaining a filter panel therebetween. The top and bottom section have respective oppositely disposed triangular cutouts, whereby the top and bottom frame .sections may be folded to provide an angular filter construction,

This invention relates to panel filter construction, and, more particularly, to sucha construction that permits forming a plurality of planar filter sections angularly disposed with respect to one another.

Various forms of filter constructions are well known in the art. However, these constructions generally apply to forming corners in the frames that enclose planar filter elements, and in no way affect the shape of the filter element. In general, they provide mitered corners in a single-piece frame construction, or brackets in a multipiece construction for holding the adjoining sections together. In other constructions, the frame section may be welded or brazed together. i

The present invention differs completely from the constructions previously known in that it is not directed to the formation of corners for the four coimers of a planar filter panel. Rather. it is directed to construction of a plurality of planar filter sections from a single filter section comprising a single filter panel retained'within asingle frame. Except for the teachings of the invention, the frame may be of conventional construction.

I 3,478,483 Patented Nov, 18 1 969,,

' portion denoted c. The frame sections 13 andd'd 'a're substantially identical, and frame sections 11 and l2.are substantially identical. If it is desired to fold the filterv to form two sections, a triangular cutout lld is made in the top portion 11c, and a similar cutout 12d is made 9Claims in the top portion 12c (not shown). The cutouts'lldand 12d are opposite each other and their vertices e define a fold line 16, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4. The bases of the cutouts are essentiallyparallel to andadiacent to the junctures of the portions b and c of the frame sections 11 and 12. The vertices e are adjacent the junctures of the portions a and c of the sections 11 and 12. Thus,.each cutout d substantially spans a portion of a frame section.

The angles of the vertices 11c and 12e determine the" degree of 'fold that can be placed in the filter without.

overlapping the edges of the top portions 110 and-12c or leaving a space between adjacent edges..Thu's,"'the cutouts may be triangles of virtually any desired angular configuration, such as 90-45-45, 60-60-60, etc

to provide different angles of bend that form neat corners in the filter. The cutouts shown form 90-45 4'5 'triangles to provide a 90 fold in the filter, as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5.

Basically, the filter. construction of the invention comprises top and bottom U-shaped frame sections with a filter panel retained therebetween. The top and bottom frame sections have respective oppositely disposed triangular cutouts, which define a fold line. The top and bottom frame section, with the filter panel retained therebetw'een, maybe folded along the fold line to provide a plurality of filter sections angularly disposed with respect to one another.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a-filter embodying the invention before the'filter is folded; FIGURE 2 --is a perspective view of the filter of FIG-.

URE 1 after it is folded;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the top frame section showing a triangular cutout;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the top frame section showing the folded corner; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on' the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a filter embodying It isalso pointed out that the invention is not limited to only one cutout in each of the portions 11c and 120. If it is desired to provide a filter having more than two folded sections, a plurality of'matching cutouts may be provided in the portions,s paced apart as desired to1provide a plurality of fold lines. Thus; a zig-zag or other configuration may be provided. I

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrated the construction of the fold in detail. As shown in FIGURE 5, when the frame section is folded about the fold line 16, a part of the portion 11b, designated III, is folded inwardly toward the portion 11a. This compresses the filter panel ISopposite the fold line 16. Thus, the filter material must be sufficiently compressible to produce an acceptable appearing corner.

What is claimed is:

1. A panel filter construction comprising:

top and bottom U-shaped frame sections for retaining 2. The. construction defined by claim 1, wherein cutouts form substantially -4S-45"j triangles.

3. The construction defined by claim 1, wherein 'said 'vertices have substantially'90" angles. 1

4. A panel filter construction comprising: 5

two side portions in parallel and joined by a top portion so as to define a pairof opposing elongated channels for retaining a filter panel therebetween; and said top portions beingformed with aligned triangular cutouts wherein each cutout has a base substantially parallel to a selected side portion on the same side of said construction and a vertex adjacent the other side portion on the other side of said construction.

5. The construction defined by claim 4, wherein each said cutout substantially spans said top portion of said frame v section.

of said frame top and bottom U-shaped frame'sections, each having 1 6. The construction defined by claim 4, wherein the two vertices define a fold line along said selected side portions for said frame sections.

7, The construction defined by claim 6, wherein said frame sections are folded about said fold line.

8. The construction as defined in claim 4 wherein material of said side portions in alignment with said vertices constitutes a deformable fold line adapted to be displaced into said respective channels when said frame sections are folded about said fold line,

9. The construction as defined in claim 4 wherein ma terial of said side portions is displaced into said respective channels when said selected side portions are moved about an axis defined by the alignment of said two vertices.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

